Let the Countdown Begin

Let the Countdown Begin

Induction Date and Time are set!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012 @ 9:00 am

Now What?

Okay, so we have an induction date and time set, but now what do we do? PREPARE! First off Roy and I have to pack our bags so we are ready to go at any minute. If I go into labor in Springfield, I will be flown to St. Louis. If I am dilated to 3 or 4 cm between now and Oct 3rd, then Roy and I will be driving to St. Louis. If my water breaks, I’m stuck here and Reiss will be flown to St. Louis immediately after birth – so let’s just hope that doesn’t happen. The house needs to be in order for our return, our work needs to be in order while we are away, and our hearts and minds need to be in order for this next chapter.

Length of Stay

Some have asked how long we will be in St. Louis. That is hard to tell. I will be admitted into the hospital on October 3rd. Induction can last 1-3 days (I know…yikes!) and I could be an inpatient for 2-4 days after depending on if a c-section is needed. After Reiss is born, the doctors will take 1-2 days to decide which procedure they will do based on the echos and other test they perform on her. Surgery could happen 4-5 days after she is born and recovery could take 1-2 weeks – depending on how well she is eating and growing. So, I would make a guess of 3 weeks?? There are really too many variables (health and stability of Reiss, type of procedure performed, recovery, etc) at this point to accurately predict our length of stay.

Visitors

I know some have mentioned coming up to visit while we are in St. Louis, which is fine. If you are planning on coming up while I am still admitted, please know that Reiss and I will be in different buildings (as mentioned above, for about 2-4 days after birth) – me in recovery in the Labor and Delivery (L&D) section of Barnes-Jewish and Reiss in the NICU at the Children’s Hospital. If you are planning on visiting us in L&D, park in the South Garage (you will have to pay for parking), access the hospital through the pedestrian Bridge. L&D is on the 5th floor, as well as the recovery rooms. To see Reiss, you can walk through the hospital to the 5th floor of the Children’s Hospital.

If you would like to visit us after I have been released, then you can park in the Children’s Hospital Garage (grandparents and parents get free parking, everyone else will have to pay), take the pedestrian bridge on Level 2 into the Children’s Hospital, and access the NICU on level 5. Please let me know if you are planning on coming to visit. I have to give a list of names to the NICU – otherwise you will not be allowed in. Children under 15 are not allowed, you must be well (I think they said if you were sick, you must be well for at least 48 hours), only 2 visitors allowed in the room at a time, and smoker’s cannot hold the baby.